*chiaroscuro, in painting, is a term used to describe the modeling of forms in
light and dark, to provide the illusion of substance on a two-dimensional
canvas, to add weight where there is none. chiaroscuro was perfected in the
Italian Renaissance, and was a favoured technique of Michelangelo. Michelangelo
Buonarroti, of course, was considered the highest master of the Italian Renaissance.
His life is well documented, but I feel no shame in the liberties I have taken with
it. I think he'd understand the need to give voice to a vision.

*Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, known simply as Caravaggio, is credited with the
invention of the tenebroso style, a dark space pierced by an emphatic stroke
of light, which was adopted by artists including Rembrandt Van Rijn. It is generally
accepted that he died in Naples, at the age of 37. He was an alcoholic,
extremely violent, and flaunted his homosexuality, all to the dismay of the
Church. An irrepressible non-conformist, Caravaggio's influence on art was
profound despite the shortness of his career. One contemporary chronicler referred
to Caravaggio as 'the anti-Christ of painting', an appellation which both delighted
and frustrated him to no end.

*I am heavily indebted to Peter Robb, author of the magnificent biography M: the man
who became Caravaggio, and to michelangelo.com, a web
design company who pay admirable tribute to their namesake with the biography
located here.

*lastly, sfumato is the smoky style of da Vinci, who does NOT figure in these
stories, except as the spiritual father of all these men, yes, Methos included. :) It's my opinion,
as an art historian, that da Vinci was instrumental in the development of modernity as it
applies to painting, to philosophy, to science, to thought. His influence is still being felt today,
and will continue to shape modern life. Without the precedents set by that 'absolute madman', not much
of this could have happened.